Littlejohn United Methodist Church

10/28/2026

Today's Reading:
Jeremiah 29:10-14

Thought for the Day:
What reminders assure me of God’s love?

Prayer Focus:
Those undergoing medical tests

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

After both of my parents died young from cancer and I watched my grandparents fight the disease, I developed a strong fear of cancer. I have often felt it stalking me like a grizzly bear.

A few years ago, some preliminary test results scared me into thinking cancer had come for me. The day I got the results I went to my farm and walked the fields, orchards, and woods, talking with God. I poured out my heart, confessed my fears, vented my anger, and asked for help. On my way home, I stopped at a convenience store. I got a phone call while walking in and sat on the wooden bench out front. When I placed my arm on the armrest, my hand landed on a pocket-sized wooden cross.

I carried that cross in my pocket daily over the following months as I endured a biopsy and the agonizing wait for results. Whenever I reached into my pocket to hold the cross I felt God’s reassurance that no matter what happened, it would be okay because God was with me. When I learned the results were negative, I went and put the cross back where I had found it, so it could reassure someone else of God’s grace.

Today's Prayer:
Faithful God, thank you for your willingness to bear our burdens when we cannot and for the unexpected ways in which you reassure and express your love for us. Amen.

10/27/2026

Today's Reading:
1 Peter 4:10-11

Thought for the Day:
I’m serving God when I share my talents.

Prayer Focus:
For confidence to share my talents

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. - 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

After retiring at the age of seventy-nine, I moved to a small town where my son lives. Several weeks later, my neighbor invited me to her small country church. I had been very active in my previous church and was anxious to find another one.

During worship, we sang a ca****la because there was no piano player. My neighbor told me that the pianist had resigned, and the church was unable to find another one. I mentioned that I could play but hadn’t in a long time. She was so excited about the possibility of having piano music once again, but I was hesitant.

I told her to give me a month to practice, and if I felt confident enough I would try playing at the church.

Over that month, I prayed daily for guidance. I had always enjoyed playing the piano but got nervous performing for others. However, I felt that God was leading me to this church and was giving me a calmness about sharing my talent. At the end of the month, I accepted the position.

The first time I played at the church my heart beat fast and my hands got a little shaky. Then I glanced at the congregation, and all I saw were smiles! I prayed, “Dear God, please help me to do my best.” Now as I play, I thank God for guiding my fingers to the right keys and for leading me down this path of service. I’m where I belong — at this piano, in this church.

Today's Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for loving and caring for us and for leading us down the right path. Amen.

10/26/2026

Empty Bowls is our annual fundraiser designed to raise awareness of hunger, of the empty bowls in our community. 2026 is the 10th Annual event. This year's event is Sunday November 1, 11am-2pm, in William Lenoir Middle School cafeteria. It is a lovely location for this most favorite community event. The $25 admission allows participants to choose from a piece of the hundreds of pieces of handmade pottery on display, then enjoy soup from our local chefs who prepare and provide the soups, and our local bakers who provide the handmade desserts. Tickets are now available in the Yokefellow office located at 202 Harper Avenue in Lenoir. Phone 828-754-7088. Hope to see you there!

10/26/2026

Join us for worship on November 1, 2026 at 9:00 am for All Saints Sunday

"First, we are chosen, then we are tested. Now, we witness.

Witness has a long history in the context of worship, but Paul isn’t really talking about speaking in worship when he writes to the Thessalonians. No, Paul is talking about a more holistic witness—the witness of our words and our life to the work of God among us. So, as you prepare for All Saints Day, consider the many different expressions that witness can take. What is the legacy of past saints that your church still witnesses in your midst? What does the witness of your church sound, smell, and taste like in your community? What stories shaped your witness in the past and today? What witness do you want to shape your future?

Additionally, what does your congregation need to witness today? Where are people hurting and struggling in your community? Where are your neighbors struggling to survive, much less thrive? Where are the hidden places that your church needs to turn its attention to, the places where good news seems so far away? Paul’s witness to the Thessalonians allows us to exercise both parts of witness—noticing and proclaiming, paying attention and sharing the story.

So, as you remember the saints ...let their witness guide your community to pay attention and pray for the people who need the gospel right now. Let your prayer of confession or intercession point your congregation to those places in your community and around the world where the vulnerable suffer and where injustice still reigns. And let the witnesses of the saints—the stories of the saints who have gone on and those present today—guide how the church responds to the needs in your community.

Perhaps you invite a youth to tell a story about a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, or another congregant who taught them something about God.

However, you choose to celebrate All Saints Sunday, in the midst of the grief and loss that this day brings, build in moments for gentle thanksgiving and joyful witness. This is a day of remembering that we are all part of the cloud of witnesses, bound together through Christ across all times and places because God’s word and grace are at work in us."

Dr. Lisa Hancock

Discipleship Ministries

10/26/2026

Don't forget Littlejohn United Methodist Church's
Trunk or Treat on Saturday evening.

We will have Hot Dogs and all the fixins!
Enjoy our annual Cake Walk too.

10/26/2026

Today's Reading:
Psalm 23:1-6

Thought for the Day:
When I have faith in the power of God, I can do anything.

Prayer Focus:
Those struggling with anxiety

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? - Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

I have always loved reading books. I read to relax and to find inspiration. But there was a time when I struggled to read anything because I was feeling extremely anxious about money and my future. When I tried to read, I would lose focus after just a few words. This greatly affected my work performance and made me even more anxious.

During this time, I could no longer turn to reading for peace and inspiration as I used to do. But then I remembered that in childhood, when I couldn’t yet read, I came to know Jesus through storytelling and songs. I tried singing a song based on Psalm 23 that my father had sung to me when I was young. One line affected me deeply and reminded me that when we follow and trust God as our shepherd, we will not lack anything. I kept praying and repeating the song over and over.

That song eventually gave me strength and inspired me to try reading out loud. After a few paragraphs, I slowly became immersed and was able to read silently again. I began with the simplest short stories and eventually I could read full-length books again.

As my faith in God grew, so did my confidence and work performance. I’ve found peace. I truly believe that God is there for us, guiding us even in our darkest moments.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for your blessings. Help us to always be faithful to you, trusting that you will guide us to the right paths. Amen.

10/25/2026

Morning Worship

10/25/2026

Today's Reading:
Philippians 4:4-9

Thought for the Day:
Beauty and purpose will be revealed in God’s good time.

Prayer Focus;
To see the beauty in everything

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Several years ago, my wife and I were gifted an ugly poinsettia plant. The green leaves had fallen off, the stem was crooked, and the red bracts were limp. However, it was given to us with pride by a woman in her nineties, and we cherished it through the Christmas season because of the loving attitude of the giver.

By spring I was sure it must be dead and started to throw it out when I noticed a tiny new leaf. So I repotted it. It grew and by October, I noticed the bracts slowly turning red. By Christmas, the plant was beautiful. Over the next year, I watched as it grew and noticed how patiently it dealt with the summer heat and storms. It became a healthy, green bush, and when October came, the bracts started to become bright red again.

As I observed this plant, I started to think about my life and how often I am impatient and negative. How often have I been impatient with God, wanting things now, but discovered that in good time, God blessed me with something better than my request? How often have I thought of something as ugly but with time have seen the beauty in it? How often have I quickly judged people only to find out they were kind and generous? The list could go on and on. I hope to grow like the poinsettia, with a patient and positive attitude.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us to remember the words of Paul, to be true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy and to practice these things. Amen.

10/24/2026

10/24/2026

Today's Reading:
Mark 5:21-34

Thought for the Day:
I will follow Jesus in showing kindness and compassion to others.

Prayer Focus:
To show kindness to those in need

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

On my way into a large shopping center, a man who was begging in the entrance called out to me, “Would you buy me a drink?” I kept walking, but then I remembered how a few hours earlier my husband had given a man in need a cake he had bought for his lunch. Ashamed, I retraced my steps and asked the man what kind of drink he wanted. I then realized that he was sitting by a drink machine, so it was easy for me to fulfill his request.

Jesus always took the time to turn aside and respond to people’s needs. In Mark 5, we read how Jairus came to Jesus and begged him to heal his daughter who was dying. On the way to Jairus’ house, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years touched Jesus’ cloak and was healed. Instead of rushing on, Jesus took the time to stop and speak to the woman, telling her that her faith had made her well. As followers of Jesus, we can emulate his example of how to treat others with kindness and compassion. In so doing, we will help to make this world a better place.

Today's Prayer:
Loving God, may we always remember your teaching to love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to show your love to others in kind words and deeds. Amen.